Thread by @AJEnglish

THREAD👇

Algorithms aren’t neutral. So can we trust them?

As more and more decisions are made for us by these complex pieces of code, @hey_alirae explores trust issues in a world run by algorithms.

Watch episode 1 of #AllHailTheAlgorithm: aje.io/kgcm7

Three topics were on our watch:
- Australia’s robo-debt scandal
- How inequality is being automated
- The COMPAS algorithm in the US

We discussed all of this with @Asher_Wolf & Virginia Eubanks (@PopTechWorks) and Sharad Goel (@5harad) aje.io/kgcm7

In 2016, Australia’s so-called ‘robo-debt scandal’ led to more than 400,000 people being told they had to pay money back to the country’s welfare system.

An algorithm was at the heart of this scandal.

We’ve explained it with some help from @Asher_Wolf: aje.io/kgcm7

Poor and marginalised people in the US have long been subject to invasive surveillance and punitive policies… and algorithms aren’t helping.

Here’s @PopTechWorks on how automation can make unfair systems unfairer aje.io/kgcm7 #AllHailTheAlgorithm

Having algorithms make decisions - about who gets financial aid, who owes money - has caused huge concern. But what’s causing a full on panic is the use of algorithms to make predictions.

Here’s how the COMPAS algorithm is used in US courtrooms by judges aje.io/kgcm7

So, going back to the question that started us on this journey - can we actually trust algorithms? aje.io/kgcm7 #AllHailTheAlgorithm @hey_alirae

Human beings create algorithms. So human beings - all of us - can build trust into them. It takes work though.

Here’s what @5harad, @Asher_Wolf and @PopTechWorks told us when we asked them how we can make algorithms more trustworthy aje.io/kgcm7 #AllHailTheAlgorithm

For more on how algorithms are impacting our lives, watch the first episode of #AllHailTheAlgorithm here: aje.io/kgcm7